LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the United Service Organization (USO)
upon the occasion of its 70th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to outstanding organizations which, through their purposeful
endeavors, support, encourage and serve the members of the United States
Armed Services during times of war and during times of peace; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the United Service Organization (USO) upon the occasion of its 70th
Anniversary of service; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the USO is to provide morale, welfare and
recreational services to United States Armed Services members and their
families, extending to them a touch of home; it accomplishes this
through a variety of troop support programs and services, many of which
have been in effect since the organization's beginning 70 years ago this
month; and
WHEREAS, Entertainment has been a staple of the USO since the organ-
ization's creation in 1941; Bob Hope's legendary tenure with USO tours
lasted 50 years and led to Congress naming him the first and only honor-
ary veteran in 1997; and
WHEREAS, The popularity of USO shows has never faded, and they contin-
ue to attract the brightest stars of the time; in 2004, 55 celebrity
tours traveled to 22 countries, entertaining more than 348,000 service
members; some 15 USO tours have visited Afghanistan since 2001, and 32
have gone to Iraq; and
WHEREAS, USO's efforts on behalf of American service members go far
beyond providing entertainment; 80 percent of its programs provide valu-
able social services for the men and women in the Armed Services and
their families throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, One of the USO's most important functions is the operation of
support centers, which number 123 around the globe, located in both
domestic and overseas airports, on overseas military bases and at busy
ports-of-call; these support centers include locations in Qatar, Kuwait
and Afghanistan, and will soon include Iraq; it also operates fleet
support centers, cyber-canteens and mobile canteens; and
WHEREAS, The key to the USO operation is extraordinary flexibility,
responding in times of crisis when military members are providing disas-
ter relief, such as during Hurricane Katrina; additional USO programs
include Operation USO Care Package, Operation Phone Home, Operation
Uplink, Operation Mail Call, USO/United Through Reading, and Gifts from
the Homefront; and
WHEREAS, USO family and community centers have been established world-
wide, helping military families deployed overseas adjust to their new
surroundings with information on child care, employment, parenting and
recreational activities, as well as providing support groups and family
crisis counseling; these centers also try to bridge the gap between the
American military and their host community and offer orientation
programs for intercultural understanding; and
WHEREAS, Having exhibited and provided its critical support and
assistance to United States military personnel and their families both
at home and abroad for 70 years, the USO has demonstrated its love for
country and merits, forevermore, the highest respect of the State of New
York and the Nation; and
WHEREAS, Service organizations which support and enhance the mission
of our Armed Services throughout the world deserve to be recognized,

commended and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their
service and their dedication; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the USO upon the occasion of its 70th Anniversary; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the United Service Organization.